Tag Archives: fun at work

When I first started working at my current job, I was a bit nervous. It was a new industry for me, although related in a lot of ways to some of my previous work experience. I received some training and then took up my place in the cubicles to get started. It took a bit for me to be comfortable talking with my new coworkers, which is quite unusual for me. Normally, I’m the first one to strike up a conversation.

It was clear that this company was different than any other place I’ve seen or worked at. Everyone seemed to know each other and get along together much better than I’d ever seen – inside jokes everywhere, a whole language I didn’t understand, relationships and friendships outside of work… I felt like the new kid at school who just moved there from some backwards place.

After a few weeks, I started to really understand the dynamics of the office. It was actually a very well oiled machine from the inside. All of the camaraderie was just one of the things that makes this place unique – and awesome. And that’s when it happened.

As I sat at my desk working away collecting data, organizing my day and what not, I heard a snap (or maybe it was a crack.. or pop..) and a yellow foam dart flew just inches over my head. Well, what the heck was that? Laughter ensued and more darts went flying around. One of the sales guys was walking behind me and so my coworker thought, let’s just shoot him with a nerf gun. Alright, I can get into this!

Before long, I was handed my very own nerf gun. It was like some glorious coronation ceremony or initiation into a fantastic secret club. When I fired that gun for the first time and narrowly missed hitting someone in the head, I felt like I belonged in this group. This was not just a place to work, not just a software development company… It was, and still is, like being on a winning sports team or part of a Brady-Bunch-kind-of-happy family.

Oh, Mandy!

You may be thinking that I’m going to advise you to stock up on foam darts to give out to your employees. That might be cool, but that’s not my advice here. What employers and managers can take away from this is that work can be fun. I posted once about how organizational culture can have far reaching effects; encouraging a fun work environment goes along way to improving employee satisfaction.

During particularly busy periods, whether expected or not, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, drown in your work and become stressed, frustrated, even bitter. When the work starts to pile up and reality sets in regarding deadlines or the scope of a particular project, it’s tough to stay positive and motivated. That’s where the nerf guns come in. When tension gets high around the office, someone’s bound to fire a random foam dart in an attempt to mock-assassinate a manager or rival sales person. One of my managers tends to get the bulk of my wrath, only because I’ve grown fond of the sneak attack as he has to walk past my office door to get in and out of his office. I’m lucky he’s a good sport.

Let your employees blow off steam. If you see them forming a bond over something (something SAFE and appropriate!), encourage them to continue, or at the very least, don’t discourage it. There’s a time and a place for everything, so don’t shoot your boss with a nerf gun when clients are around or if it’s just clearly not a good time. Maybe you shouldn’t get your boss at all, that’s all going to depend on the kind of dynamic your workplace offers. What’s important is that employers recognize these kinds of rituals or diversions as healthy ways to blow of steam.

If your office doesn’t embrace any notable behavior like this, be proactive and offer up an activity that anyone could do. Maybe it’s been a long busy month and there’s a hockey game going on in your town, a new restaurant open nearby, bowling.. anything that may be interesting and fun. Offer ideas so that your employees know that you recognize their effort, that they’ve been working harder than usual or helped complete a major project that benefits the whole organization.

You may not accomplish the close, family style relationship you want with your employees but you will notice an appreciation that goes a long way. Happy employees are productive employees. They are also more loyal. These kinds of things extend to your employees’ personal lives, too. When I head home after a hectic day at the office, I can smile to myself because ‘I totally got Ryan with that dart today!’ and it’s a funny story to share with my family.